JP2000115893A - Manufacture of ultrasonic probe - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make a sound matching layer uniform in thickness, small in variance, and superior in economy and to improve transmission and reception characteristics of an ultrasonic wave by forming the sound matching layer by providing a couple of limiting materials of constant height on a piezoelectric plate and applying molten resin, and pressing the top surface. SOLUTION: On a backing material 1, the piezoelectric plate 3 having electrodes 2a and 2b on both its main surfaces is fixed and at both end parts on a 1st-layer (glass) 4a, limiting materials 5a and 5b, such as resin rods, which have a height of λ/4 are fixed. The 1st layer 4a is coated with molten resin made of the same materials with the limiting materials 5a and 5b. Then a press plate 6 having, for example, the top surface made flat is pressed against the molten resin. Consequently, an excess of the molten resin is extruded to form a 2nd layer 4b which has λ/4 thickness. After sound matching layers 4a and 4b are formed, a cut reaching the backing material 1 from the sound matching layers is formed to obtain divided piezoelectric elements, thus forming an array type probe.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to an ultrasonic probe application field, and more particularly to a method for manufacturing an acoustic matching layer.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art An ultrasonic probe is used as a transmitting / receiving part of an ultrasonic wave in, for example, a medical ultrasonic diagnostic apparatus. In these devices, usually, an acoustic matching layer is provided because the acoustic impedance of the piezoelectric plate of the ultrasonic wave generation source and the living body are different from each other, and the ultrasonic waves are reflected at the interface to deteriorate the propagation efficiency. In recent years, there has been a demand for manufacturing an acoustic matching layer having a uniform thickness and excellent workability.

FIG. 1 is an illustration of an ultrasonic probe for explaining a conventional example. An ultrasonic probe includes a piezoelectric plate 3 having electrodes 2 (ab) on both main surfaces on a backing material 1.
And an acoustic matching layer 4 (ab) is formed on the surface thereof. The acoustic matching layer 4 (ab) is, for example, two layers, the first layer 4a is made of glass, and the second layer 4b is made of resin. For resin coating, a layer of molten resin 4b is applied on the first layer (FIG. 4), and after curing, it is ground or polished.
For example, grinding to a thickness of λ / 4 while monitoring the transmission and reception characteristics of ultrasonic waves (FIG. 5).

[0004]

[Problems to be Solved by the Invention]
However, in such a manufacturing method, since the grinding is performed while monitoring the characteristics one by one, the work efficiency is poor due to uneven thickness or variation between products. In addition, there is a problem that mechanical equipment for grinding is required, and economic efficiency is poor.

(Object of the Invention) The present invention provides a method of manufacturing an ultrasonic probe having a uniform thickness of the acoustic matching layer, a small variation, excellent economic efficiency, and excellent ultrasonic wave transmitting / receiving characteristics. The purpose is to:

[0006]

According to the present invention, an acoustic matching layer is formed by providing at least a pair of restricting members having a constant height dimension on a piezoelectric plate, applying a molten resin, and pressing the molten resin from the upper surface. This is the basic solution.

[0007]

In the present invention, since the molten resin applied with the restricting material is pressed, the thickness is made uniform, and the dispersion is small.
Moreover, the work is facilitated. Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described.

[0008]

FIG. 1 is an illustration of an ultrasonic probe for explaining an embodiment of the present invention. The same parts as those in the prior art are denoted by the same reference numerals, and description thereof will be simplified. The ultrasonic probe is
As in the previous conventional example, the electrodes 2
An acoustic matching layer 4 (ab) is formed by fixing the piezoelectric plate 3 having (ab), bonding the first layer 4a with glass, and coating the second layer 4b with resin.

In this embodiment, restricting members 5 (ab) such as resin rods having a height dimension (thickness) of λ / 4 are fixed to both ends on the first layer (glass) 4a.
Then, a molten resin 4a made of the same material as the limiting material 5 (ab) is applied on the first layer 4a. Next, for example, a pressing plate 6 having a flat surface is pressed onto the molten resin. As a result, the excess amount of the molten resin is extruded to form a second layer 4b having a thickness of λ / 4. After the acoustic matching layer 4 (ab) is formed, a cut is made from the acoustic matching layer to the backing material 1 and divided into a plurality of piezoelectric elements to form an arrayed probe (not shown).

In such a manufacturing method, the limiting material 5
The second layer 4a having a uniform thickness corresponding to the height of (ab) can be obtained. Therefore, grinding or the like after hardening is not required, so that work can be facilitated and productivity can be increased. In addition, since a grinding device is not required, economy is also excellent. In addition, since the limiting material 5 (ab) in this embodiment is made of the same resin as the second layer 4a, the entire surface can be formed as the second layer, and there is no waste on the transmitting and receiving surfaces.

[0011]

[Other Matters] In the above embodiment, the restricting members 5 (ab) are provided at both ends in the longitudinal direction of the piezoelectric plate 3, but they may be provided in the width direction or at a plurality of places other than the both ends. Good. In addition, the limiting material 5 (ab) is the same material as the second layer 4a, but is not limited thereto, and may be another material. In addition, the limiting member 5 (ab) is a resin rod, which may be a sphere or a square in cross section, or may be a tape or the like. Good.

Although the piezoelectric plate 3 is formed on a flat surface, the piezoelectric plate 3 can be applied to any shape even if it has a curved surface by using a pressing plate having the same curved surface. Further, the acoustic matching layer 4 (ab) is applied as the second layer as the second layer, but any layer can be applied as long as it is formed of a molten resin. Further, although the array type is used, it is needless to say that the array type may be a matrix or a single plate.

[0013]

According to the present invention, the acoustic matching layer is formed by providing at least a pair of restricting members having a constant height dimension on the piezoelectric plate, applying a molten resin, and pressing the molten resin from the upper surface. It is possible to provide a method for manufacturing an ultrasonic probe having a uniform thickness of the matching layer, small variation, excellent economic efficiency, and good transmission / reception characteristics.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a diagram of an ultrasonic probe explaining one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of an ultrasonic probe explaining one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of an ultrasonic probe explaining one embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of an ultrasonic probe illustrating a conventional example.

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of an ultrasonic probe illustrating a conventional example.

[Explanation of symbols]

1 backing material, 2 electrodes, 3 piezoelectric plates, 4 acoustic matching layers, 5 limiting materials, 6 pressing plates.

Claims (1)

[Claims] 1. A method for manufacturing an ultrasonic probe having an acoustic matching layer on a piezoelectric plate as a source of ultrasonic waves, wherein at least one pair of restricting members having a constant height is provided on the piezoelectric plate. Wherein the molten resin is applied by pressing the molten resin from above to form the acoustic matching layer.